Job Perks

People often ask me and my other colleagues why we do the work that we do. Social work is, after all, a job not very well known for its "job perks." We work long, hard hours with little pay. I don't say that for people to say, "poor social workers." I say that because it is a fact; we know what we are getting into though and no one is forcing us to do the work we do.

We have our reasons.

No it may not be a big payday and we may not live in big houses. We have our own job perks. Job perks that we would not trade for a million dollars. They may not happen very often but they are so big that they can keep us going for months at a time and when we think we cannot take anymore...another job perk will come along, much like the letter below from one of my kids. There is little better than knowing, without a doubt, the work you do is making a difference. I am not spinning my wheels; well at least not everyday.

I stated that there is little better that knowing you are making a difference; but if I know anything it is that these kids are the biggest job perk of all...at least most days :)!

The letter below was written by one of my kids (I have typed it exactly as it was written to me). She has come a long way in the 2 years that I have worked with her and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her.

Dear Ms. M.,

For you to have put up with me for as long as you did was very surprising to me! I did not want to give you a chance because I did not want to take the time to talk to you or just get to know you. At the time I was not very open to change at all. But some how you pushed your way through! Not many people would have did what you did they would have gave up on me a long time ago but you stuck by me.

With the things that have recently happened I have learned to deal with change in any shape, size, or form that it may appear. You are truly a blessing not only to me but to the other case loads you have, you do not have to do the job that you do, but do to the heart that you possess its not hard to see why I have grown to like you. Now don’t get all mushy on me but you probably did that when I gave you the letter to begin with. I really need to say thank you!!!! At the beginning of our relationship I would never had picked you to be my case worker but now I would not have it any other way.

At time you still get on my nerves and I know for a fact that I still get on yours but we are still able to work out of difference and still put up with one another I strongly believer that you came into my life at the right time I have not idea of were I would be without you. That is why I say again thank you, thank you, thank you. You are a strong women and a great role model, I can only hope to be able to become that strong. You have become a very important part of my life without you I couldn’t have did everything I have done in the past year.

Now that we are able to communicate it feels so much better. Yet I still need to apologize for all the hurtful and ugly things that I have said to you in the past. I truly am sorry and if I hurt you in any way I am sorry. Thank you for sticking by me even in those times, not many people would have done it.

You are something else!!! I mean that in a very good way. You are unique in your own way even if you constantly loss your cool points with me you can always gain them back. You have earned something with me that a lot of people haven’t my trust and a little love. THANK YOU!!!

Always,
C.P.

By the way..."cool points" are points my kids give me when I do something "cool," such as let them listen to their music in the car (so long as it does not degrade anyone, have any profanity, etc), take them out to dinner, when I say something cool, etc. They also take them away when I do such things as dance (or attempt to dance), say something "un-cool," dress like an "old lady," etc.

Wishing you job perks as cool as mine,
M.